Try Something New On The MPA Sailing Team

mpa sailing team on the waterfrom Stevie Olk ’21, MPA Sailing Team Captain

Fall sports have begun! Of course, you have all the normal sports to choose from, but here at MPA students in grades 7-12 also have something different—sailing. Did you know that we have been one of the top teams in the state recently? Did you know that we race locally, regionally, and nationally? Did you know that sailing is a co-ed sport?

If you are looking for a sport that has life-long potential and is tons of fun, come join the MPA Sailing Team. You do not have to know how to sail—we will teach you everything you need to know to be part of our team. Read More


Join Us At The Ice Cream Social

middle schoolers enjoying the ice cream socialCome by for a sweet treat and great company! The MPA Ice Cream Social is on Thursday, September 5, from 3-4 PM at the Lower School Atrium. This annual community gathering is hosted by MPA’s admission and administrative teams, who serve ice cream sundaes to smiling faces. All families are welcome to come. We hope to see you there to celebrate our community and a great start to the new school year!


Building A Better Future

dr. Hudson shaking the hand of a middle school student on the first day of schoolby Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

It was 1 AM Wednesday morning and I found myself wide awake. Fully aware that my alarm clock would ring in just a few hours, I just could not fall sleep. Even though this is my 29th year as an educator, I had the same excitement and the same tinge of nervousness that I had as a young student teacher. Standing before our community on Back to School Night, I knew that all those gathered shared a similar excitement, anxiety, and optimism, albeit in varying amounts. It is always quite humbling. And awe-inspiring. Read More


Welcome From The Parents Association

First day of school parents association coffeeA warm welcome from the MPA Parents Association! It was a pleasure to catch up with friends and meet new families at the Parents Association First Day of School Coffee.

The Parents Association is hosting a Meet & Greet on Friday, September 6 at 8 AM in the PCR. Come join us for a light breakfast and learn about who we are and what we do, meet this year’s grade reps and other parents, and share your ideas on how to strengthen our MPA community. Every MPA parent is a member of the Parents Association! We look forward to seeing you!


Helping Students Set Goals

middle school student studies a sheet of music in orchestra
Charting A Path In A New Academic Year
In school and in life, goal setting is good. Goals serve as essential mileposts, helping to define pathways and measure progress, and leading to a greater sense of personal accomplishment and satisfaction. Meaningful goal setting is particularly important as students start a new academic year, and as they reflect on their priorities, their values, and their signals of success.

Practical Goal Setting and Resiliency
“To narrow and pinpoint reasonable, achievable, and admirable goals for a new year requires both big-picture thinking and ground-level planning,” writes Matt Levinson in Edutopia. He shares a favorite illustration of the multifaceted components for goal setting, explaining that good goals need “boulders (big picture thinking), rocks (the translation of those big ideas), and sand (the execution of the details). Goals that don’t contain all three components are doomed to fall short.” Read More


Did You Receive Your MPA Parent Nametag?

mpa parent wearing a parent nametagMPA Parent Nametags were distributed at Back To School Night via folders of the youngest child in each family. Please wear this nametag when you visit campus and remember to sign in so we know if you are present in case of an emergency.

If you did not receive a nametag, please let us know at communications@moundsparkacademy.org. Thank you!


Welcome Back To MPA!

lower school student finds his locker at back to school nightWelcome home, Panthers! We are looking forward to seeing new families at New Family Orientation and returning families at Back To School Night to begin a fantastic school year! Grab your school supplies and head to campus on Monday, August 26, for an all-school assembly, time with your teachers, and a special ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new commons, cafeteria, and kitchen!

New Family Orientation: 3-6 PM

LOWER SCHOOL FAMILIES • GRADES PREK-4
3-3:30 PM – Students and parents stay together to meet homeroom teachers, put away school supplies, and locate and/or practice lockers.
3:30-4:45 PM – Students separate for an activity with Mr. Purdy, extended day coordinator, while parents meet with Ms. Wright, Lower School director, in the library.
4:45-5:30 PM – Enjoy dinner in the cafeteria.
5:30-5:45 PM – Meet Dr. Hudson, head of school, and the leadership team.
6:15-6:30 PM – All-School Welcome Back Assembly in the Lansing Center.
6:30-7:30 PM – Additional time to visit homeroom and specialist teachers and classrooms, organize school supplies, and practice student lockers.
7:15-7:30 PM – Ribbon cutting ceremony and refreshments in the cafeteria. Read More


Big Points For School Athletics

MPA girls varsity volleyball team huddleBuilding Character and Academic Success
Back to school also means back to sports, with many students reuniting with their fall teams, moving up to the next level of play, or trying out a new activity. Mounds Park Academy has been at the forefront of cultivating student athletes, with an emphasis on good sportsmanship and leadership that extends from the classroom to the courts, tracks, fields and stadiums where our Panthers compete.

Healthy mind, healthy body
MPA offers one of the broadest prep school athletic programs in the Twin Cities, including more than 20 Upper School teams and a range of competitive Middle School sports that begin in fifth grade. Our student athletes transform their gifts and talents into accomplishments that bolster their educational experience, with research showing that sports help create better students, and better citizens. For example, the University of Missouri’s Adolescent Medicine program highlights that many athletes do better academically and encourages all children to participate in sports, reinforcing that “physical exercise is good for the mind, body, and spirit. Team sports help teach adolescents accountability, dedication, leadership and other skills … [and how] to effectively communicate to solve problems.” MPA’s athletics embraces this theme, welcoming students to take part in sports at all levels of experience—developing commitment, character, perseverance, initiative, and teamwork. Read More


A Loving Memory And Dedication

Schwartz family dedication in the MakerspaceAt the most recent Spring Auction, the Schwartz family purchased the ability to name one of the sewing machines in the Makerspace. They chose to name the sewing machine in the memory of Linda Handler-Lack, who was a great aunt of MPA seventh grader Henry S.

Linda was an avid quilter who unfortunately passed away a couple of years ago after a short battle with cancer. She made quilts for all members of the family that they still cherish today. Linda would be happy to know that a sewing machine named after her is being used to teach children a skill that she loved.


Welcome To The Family, Ms. Honan!

Cherie HonanMeet Cherie Honan, who will be our executive assistant to the head of school. Ms. Honan comes to MPA with more than 20 years of high level executive administrative experience in the legal and banking fields. She has excellent skills in project management, is organized and detailed, and communicates warmly and articulately. In her role at MPA, she will help best serve MPA families, faculty, and staff in a way that is responsive and helpful. She also has an extremely caring and joyful disposition.

What did you love about MPA right away?
After many years of working in a corporate setting, I loved the close-knit, welcoming atmosphere at MPA. I am honored to be part of the community.

What’s your big dream?
My big dream is to spend a month in Hawaii and visit every island.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
My husband and I are passionate about our grandchildren, Mallard and Janelle. We are also expecting grandchild number three who is due any day.

What’s your secret talent?
My secret talent started out as a secret to me. I love event planning. The event I am most proud of is my niece Olivia’s wedding.

We can’t wait for our entire community to meet you, Ms. Honan! Stay tuned for more extended Q&A profiles of the amazing faculty and staff joining our community in the 2019-20 school year!